Christmas Masses in Madison

This page is from 2012. Many of the times may be similar for subsequent years (for instance in 2014 as I write this, I know the Cathedral Parish, St Paul’s and Our Lady Queen of Peace have exactly the same Mass times this year as they did for Christmas 2012), you will need to check by following the link to the parish website and find out this year’s Christmas Mass times.

If you are a Catholic who has been away from Sunday Mass attendance for a while, welcome home! Do not let this opportunity slip by. Please let Christmas Mass be an occasion of grace to love Jesus more and follow him more eagerly and more closely, a new beginning to return to the practice of your Catholic faith including Confession and weekly Sunday Mass. God loves you and offers mercy for your happiness and wholeness in union with Him in His Body the the Church in this life and in eternity.

I have tried to make a page of all the 2012 Christmas Masses at Madison’s Catholic parishes. Christmas is indeed a Holy Day of Obligation and any of these Masses will fulfill the obligation. If you’re seeking the normal (non holiday) Mass schedules, confession times and other info for Madison parishes, see my page of Madison, WI Mass Times.

Good Shepherd Parish
(608)268-9930South side of downtown area, This merged parish consists of two churches, St James @ 1128 St James Court near Meriter Hospital (click for Google Map), and St Joseph @ 1905 W Beltline Highway (click for Google Map). Good Shepherd Parish consists of St James Church and St Joseph Church.

To receive Holy Communion at Mass, you must be Catholic, and you must have sacramentally confessed and been absolved of every grave sin of which you are aware. For deeper understanding of what Catholics believe about that please click here. If you are not properly disposed to receive Communion, stay in the pew at Communion time, even if ushers or other congregants are trying to cue you to go. Then do what all the Saints did when they were unable to receive Communion: make a spiritual Communion, expressing to God in prayer your faith in His presence, and loving desire to be united with Him and with fellow Christians. The corollary of this is, it is wrong to either pressure or judge anyone abstaining from Holy Communion.

Keep in mind what the Holy Mass actually is, the re-presentation of the once-for-all saving sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. He is truly present, as at His Nativity, as at the Last Supper, as at the Crucifixion, as at His Resurrection!

Those who will receive Jesus in Holy Communion must observe a minimum fast of 1 hour prior to Communion. Anything other than water or medicine breaks the fast. Candy, gum, or beverages do not belong at Mass.

There are such things as very, very low gluten (“gluten-free”) Communion hosts for people with gluten intolerance. Some parishes may have them in the sacristy and will be happy to accommodate your need if you ask before Mass. In some other cases you must obtain them yourself (taking care to get the right kind–rice ones are NOT valid). Info here.

Your little children may make some noise or fidget and this is not a disaster. Relax, parents, we love you and your kids. Do not give them snacks, headphones or electronic games during Mass. Do what you can to help them understand Mass even when they are tiny, and be a model to them of prayerful attentiveness.

Modest dignity in dress is respectful of yourself, others, and the Holy Mass.

Needs such as going to the bathroom or for a drink of water should be attended to before Mass unless it’s because of a medical condition. Silence or turn off your cellphone; never answer or make calls in church, even texting is generally not appropriate.

No one will judge you for not putting something in the collection. If you are Catholic you should be giving to the Church somehow even if you have only a “widow’s mite”, whatever the case may be, be generous.

Do not leave Mass early. The first person to do so was Judas, at the Last Supper, the first Mass.

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5 Responses to Christmas Masses in Madison

On December 23, 2012 at 7:31 pm, Andy said:

Nice of you to post all of this good information.

This sentence is not clear: “Those who are not Catholics who have sacramentally confessed every grave sin of which they are aware (for deeper understanding of what Catholics believe about that please click here), remain in the pew at Communion time”

Non-Catholics do not go to Confession. It would read better if you had said, “Those who ARE Catholics and who have NOT sacramentally confessed every grave sin of which they are aware (for deeper understanding of what Catholics believe about that please click here), should remain in the pew at Communion time. AND non-Catholics should not receive communion.”

I also think you should have said the same in your opening remarks especially where you said, “If you are a Catholic and have not been regularly fulfilling your Sunday Mass obligation, but the season has motivated you to want to come home, a warm welcome and blessings to you, and please keep coming back, Jesus loves you and we love you. ” Catholics who have not been “regularly fulfilling” their Sunday obligation are welcome BUT should NOT receive Holy Communion unless they have made a good Confession.

Thanks Andy, I tried to make it a little clearer. First of all people must be welcomed, even knowing some may make mistakes, even serious ones. I tried to provide the information to help people to participate in a way by which they will truly spiritually benefit. But it’s up to people’s good will to choose to do what is right.

Merry Christmas Lisamarie!! I also strongly think breastfeeding (or a bottle) is okay in church but would think if it can be before or after Mass a mother might prefer that, and run less risk of distracting others. But baby crying because hungry would also distract. In no way would I think there was something wrong. I am glad for the presence of the babies.